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Initial Validation (initial + validation)
Selected AbstractsInitial Validation of the Perioperative Nursing Data Set in FinlandINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2 2002Kristiina Junttilla MNSc PURPOSE. To explore the relevance of the Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) in Finland. METHODS. A three-round Delphi technique (10 participants) and content analysis of 134 articles from the Journal of the Finnish Operating Room Nurses Association. FINDINCS. All the PNDS outcomes, 86% of the diagnoses, and 87% of the interventions were found to be relevant. The Delphi panel suggested, and content analysis revealed, 6 new outcomes, 43 new diagnoses, and 11 new interventions. Consensus was achieved on 77%. The phrases used in perioperative articles corresponded with those of PNDS 56%-78% of the time. CONCLUSIONS.PNDS can be used to describe perioperative nursing in Finland. Further conceptualization and validation are needed before using the data set in perioperative practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE. Although PNDS cannot be implemented in Finland as is, it is a valid structure for further development of the terminology, contents, methods, and practice of Finnish perioperative documentation. Première validation d'une base de données concernant les soins infirmiers périopératoires en Finlande BUT.Explorer la pertinence d'une base de données concernant les soins infirmiers périopératoires en Finlande. MÉTHODE.La méthode de Delphi à 3 tours (10 participants) et l'analyse de contenu de 134 articles publiés dans le Journal de l'Association Finlandaise des Infirmières de bloc opératoire. RÉSULTATS.Tous les résultats, 86% des diagnostics et 87% des interventions de la BDSIP se sont révélés pertinents. Le panel Delphi et l'analyse de contenu ont permis d'identifier 6 nouveaux résultats, 43 nouveaux diagnostics, et 11 nouvelles interventions. Le consensus a atteint 77%. Les phrases utilisées dans les articles sur les soins périopératoires correspondaient à l'ensemble de la BDSIP avec un écart de 56%-78%. CONCLUSIONS.La BDSIP peut être utilisée pour décrire les soins périopératoires en Finlande. II faut cependant poursuivre le processus de conceptualisation et de validation avant d'utiliser cette base de données dans le milieu clinique périopératoire. IMPLICATIONS POUR LA PRATIQUE. It Serait prématuré d'utiliser la BDSIP actuelle, en Finlande, mais elle constitue une structure valide pour développer la terminologie, les contenus, les méthodes et la pratique, tels qu'ils pourraient apparaître dans les dossiers des patients en périopératoire. Mots-clés:Base de données de soins infirmiers, dossiers, nomenclature, soins périopératoires ValidaçãTo Inicial do Conjunto de Dados de Enfermagem Perioperatória na Finlàndia OBJETIVO.Explorar a relevância do Conjunto de Dados de Enfermagem Perioperatória (PNDS) na Finlândia. MÉTODO.Técnica de Delphi em três rodadas (10 participantes) e análise de conteúdo de 134 artigos da Revista da AssociaçãTo Finlandesa de Enfermeiras de Centro Cirúrgico. ACHADOS.Todos os resultados esperados do PNDS, 86% dos diagnósticos e 87% das intervenções foram considerados relevantes. O painel Delphi sugeriu, e a análise de conteúdo revelou, 6 novos resultados esperados, 43 novos diagnósticos e 11 novas intervenções. Foi obtido consenso em 77%. As frases utilizadas em artigos perioperatórios corresponderam àquelas do PNDS de 56%-78% das vezes. CONCLUSÕTES.O PNDS pode ser utilizado para descrever a enfermagem perioperatória na Finlândia. É preciso ampliar a conceptualizaçãTo e validaçãTo antes de usar o conjunto de dados na prática perioperatória. IMPLICAÇÕTES PARA A PRÁTICA.Embora o PNDS não possa ser implementado na Finlândia como está, trata-se de uma estrutura válida para um maior desenvolvimento da terminologia, conteúdo, método e prática da documentaçõo perioperatória Finlandesa. Palavras para busca:Conjunto de dados de enfermagem, documentaçõo, enfermagem perioperatória, nomenclatura Validación Inicial del Conjunto Mínimo de Datos de la Enfermeria de Quirófano en Finlandia PROPÓSITO.Explorar la relevancia del Conjunto Mínimo de Datos de la Enfermería de Quirófano (PNDS) en Finlandia métodos. Una técnica Delphi a tres vueltas (10 participantes) y el análisis de contenido de 134 artículos de la Revista de la Asociación Finlandesa de Enfermeras de Quirófano. RESULTADOS.Todos los resultados del PNDS se encontraron relevantes el 86% de los diagnósticos y el 87% de las intervenciones. El panel Delphi sugirió, y el unúlisis de contenido reveló, seis nuevos resultados, 43 nuevos diagnósticos, y 11 nuevas intervenciones. El consenso general se logró en el 77%. Las frases utilizadas en los artículos, correspondieron con el PNDS en el 56%-78% de las ocasiones. CONCLUSIONES. El PNDS puede ser utilizado para describir la Enfermería de Quirófano en Finlandia. Conceptualización y validación posterior, son necesarias antes de usar el conjunto de datos en la práctica de quirófano. IMPLICACIONES PARA LA PRÁCTICA.Aunque el PNDS no puede llevarse a cabo en Finlandia tal como está, es una estructura válida para desarrollos posteriores de la terminología, contenidos, métodos y práctica de la documentación de quirófano finlandesa. Términos de búsqueda:Conjunto Mínimo de Datos de Enfermería, enfermería de quirófano, documentación, nomenclatura Search terms:Documentation, nomenclature, nursing data set, perioperative nursing [source] Measuring Counterproductivity: Development and Initial Validation of a German Self-Report QuestionnaireINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT, Issue 1-2 2002Bernd Marcus This article describes the development and initial construct validation of a comprehensive self-report measure of workplace counterproductivity. The instrument contains subscales for different targets of counterproductivity (organizational and interpersonal deviance, Robinson and Bennett 1995) as well as for different forms of manifestation (absenteeism, substance use, aggression, and theft, respectively) An empirical study (N = 174), conducted in one manufacturing and one retail organization, confirmed the intended internal structure by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Counterproductivity may best be described as a higher-order behavioural construct loading on subdimensions carrying unique variance. In addition, an examination of outside variables showed that the best predictor of counterproductivity was self-control, followed by integrity, whereas cognitive ability was largely unrelated to the construct. The opposite pattern of correlations occurred for productive performance behaviours, indicating that counterproductivity is a unique construct within the performance domain. Differences and similarities between the present measure and a recent independent development by Bennett and Robinson (2000) are discussed, along with conclusions for future research on the topic. [source] The Development and Well-Being Assessment: Description and Initial Validation of an Integrated Assessment of Child and Adolescent PsychopathologyTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 5 2000Robert Goodman The Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) is a novel package of questionnaires, interviews, and rating techniques designed to generate ICD-10 and DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses on 5-ldyear-olds. Nonclinical interviewers administer a structured interview to parents about psychiatric symptoms and resultant impact. When definite symptoms are identified by the structured questions, interviewers use open-ended questions and supplementary prompts to get parents to describe the problems in their own words. These descriptions are transcribed verbatim by the interviewers but are not rated by them. A similar interview is administered to 1 l-16-year-olds. Teachers complete a brief questionnaire covering the main conduct, emotional, and hyperactivity symptoms and any resultant impairment. The different sorts of information are brought together by a computer program that also predicts likely diagnoses. These computer-generated summary sheets and diagnoses form a convenient starting point for experienced clinical raters, who decide whether to accept or overturn the computer diagnosis (or lack of diagnosis) in the light of their review of all the data, including transcripts. In the present study, the DAWBA was administered to community (N= 491) and clinic (N= 39) samples. There was excellent discrimination between community and clinic samples in rates of diagnosed disorder. Within the community sample, subjects with and without diagnosed disorders differed markedly in external characteristics and prognosis. In the clinic sample, there was substantial agreement between DAWBA and case note diagnoses, though the DAWBA diagnosed more comorbid disorders. The use of screening questions and skip rules greatly reduced interview length by allowing many sections to be omitted with very little loss of positive information. Overall, the DAWBA successfully combined the cheapness and simplicity of respondent-based measures with the clinical persuasiveness of investigator-based diagnoses. The DAWBA has considerable potential as an epidemiological measure, and may prove to be of clinical value too. [source] The Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT): development, reliability, concurrent and predictive validity among adolescents and adultsADDICTION, Issue 4 2010Jan Bashford ABSTRACT Aims To describe the empirical construction and initial validation of the Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT), a brief self-report screening instrument for detection of currently and potentially problematic cannabis use. Design In a three-phase prospective design an item pool of candidate questions was generated from a literature review and extensive expert consultation. The CUPIT internal structure, cross-sectional and longitudinal psychometric properties were then systematically tested among heterogeneous past-year users. Participants Volunteer participants were 212 high-risk adolescents (n = 138) and adults (n = 74) aged 13,61 years from multiple community settings. Measurements The comprehensive assessment battery included several established measures of cannabis-related pathology for CUPIT validation, with DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnoses of cannabis use disorders as criterion standard. Findings Sixteen items loading highly on two subscales derived from principal components analysis exhibited good to excellent test,retest (0.89,0.99) and internal consistency reliability (0.92, 0.83), and highly significant ability to discriminate diagnostic subgroups along the severity continuum (non-problematic, risky, problematic use). Twelve months later, baseline CUPIT scores demonstrated highly significant longitudinal predictive utility for respondents' follow-up diagnostic group membership. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a CUPIT score of 12 to be the optimal cut-point for maximizing sensitivity for both currently diagnosable cannabis use disorder and those at risk of meeting diagnostic criteria in the following 12 months. Conclusions The CUPIT is a brief cannabis screener that is reliable, valid and acceptable for use across diverse community settings and consumers of all ages. The CUPIT has clear potential to assist with achievement of public health goals to reduce cannabis-related harms in the community. [source] Development and initial validation of an instrument for human capital planningHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2008Kenneth J. Zula This article reports on development and validation of an instrument for use in human capital approaches for organizational planning. The article describes use of a team of subject matter experts in developing a measure of human capital planning, and use of exploratory factor analysis techniques to validate the resulting instrument. These data were obtained from a national survey of 494 human resource management and human resource development respondents. The article presents an instrument for assistance with human capital planning as a strategic human resource management tool and further reports on the initial validity and reliability measures resulting from the analysis. In addition, the usefulness of this instrument for human resource management and human resource development professionals is explored. [source] Development and initial validation of an instrument measuring managerial coaching skillHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2005Gary N. McLean This article reports on two studies that used three different samples (N = 644) to construct and validate a multidimensional measure of managerial coaching skill. The four dimensions of coaching skill measured were Open Communication, Team Approach, Value People, and Accept Ambiguity. The two studies assessed the context adequacy, dimensionality, reliability, factor structure, and construct validity of the scale. Preliminary reliability and validity evidence of the scale was determined. Consequently, the coaching scale provides future researchers with a valuable tool to measure coaching skill in organizational studies, and it offers human resource development professionals a valid instrument to develop effective managers. [source] Invited reaction: Development and initial validation of an instrument measuring managerial coaching skillHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2005David B. Peterson First page of article [source] Numerical simulation of viscous flow interaction with an elastic membraneINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 11 2008Lisa A. Matthews Abstract A numerical fluid,structure interaction model is developed for the analysis of viscous flow over elastic membrane structures. The Navier,Stokes equations are discretized on a moving body-fitted unstructured triangular grid using the finite volume method, taking into account grid non-orthogonality, and implementing the SIMPLE algorithm for pressure solution, power law implicit differencing and Rhie,Chow explicit mass flux interpolations. The membrane is discretized as a set of links that coincide with a subset of the fluid mesh edges. A new model is introduced to distribute local and global elastic effects to aid stability of the structure model and damping effects are also included. A pseudo-structural approach using a balance of mesh edge spring tensions and cell internal pressures controls the motion of fluid mesh nodes based on the displacements of the membrane. Following initial validation, the model is applied to the case of a two-dimensional membrane pinned at both ends at an angle of attack of 4° to the oncoming flow, at a Reynolds number based on the chord length of 4 × 103. A series of tests on membranes of different elastic stiffness investigates their unsteady movements over time. The membranes of higher elastic stiffness adopt a stable equilibrium shape, while the membrane of lowest elastic stiffness demonstrates unstable interactions between its inflated shape and the resulting unsteady wake. These unstable effects are shown to be significantly magnified by the flexible nature of the membrane compared with a rigid surface of the same average shape. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dementia Care Mapping (DCM): initial validation of DCM 8 in UK field trialsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 11 2006Dawn J. Brooker Abstract Objectives This paper describes DCM 8 and reports on the initial validation study of DCM 8. Methods Between 2001,2003, a series of international expert working groups were established to examine various aspects of DCM with the intention of revising and refining it. During 2004,2005 the revised tool (DCM 8) was piloted in seven service settings in the UK and validated against DCM 7th edition. Results At a group score level, WIB scores and spread of Behavioural Category Codes were very similar, suggesting that group scores are comparable between DCM 7 and 8. Interviews with mappers and focus groups with staff teams suggested that DCM 8 was preferable to DCM 7th edition because of the clarification and simplification of codes; the addition of new codes relevant to person-centred care; and the replacement of Positive Events with a more structured recording of Personal Enhancers. Conclusions DCM 8 appears comparable with DCM 7th edition in terms of data produced and is well received by mappers and dementia care staff. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The development and initial validation of the Terminally Ill Grief or Depression Scale (TIGDS)INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005Vyjeyanthi S. Periyakoil Abstract Patients often experience ,preparatory-grief' as they cope with the dying process. Some may be depressed. The Terminally Ill Grief or Depression Scale (TIGDS), comprising grief and depression sub-scales, is a new self-report measure designed to differentiate between preparatory-grief and depression in adult inpatients. The initial 100-item inventory was assembled based on literature review, interviews with clinicians and dying patients and then shortened to 42 items based on consensus expert opinion. Validity and reliability were tested in a sample of 55 terminally ill adults. The consensus clinical opinion was used as the gold standard to differentiate between preparatory grief and depression. The intra-class correlation coefficient was high (it was calculated to estimate the test-retest reliability for the 47 patients who had completed the TIGDS twice , retest was administered 2 to 7 days after the initial test), ranging from 0.86 (grief) to 0.97 (depression). The validity of TIGDS was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, comparing the first test with the clinical criterion. The first and only variable and cut-point was the depression score (chi-square = 18.4,p < 0.001, cut point = 3). The sensitivity of the TIGDS was 0.727 and specificity was 0.886 for the depression = 3 cutoff score. The construct validity of the TIGDS was tested by comparing with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The TIGDS depression subscale showed strong convergent validity and the TIGDS grief subscale showed strong discriminant validity with the HADS total score. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reliability of a telephone-administered cognitive test battery (TACT) between telephone and face-to-face administrationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001Neil R. Thompson Abstract We have previously described the development and initial validation of a telephone administered cognitive test battery (TACT). This report investigates the retest reliability of the TACT battery between telephone administration and face-to-face administration and measures the concurrent validity of the test components against a standard test of cognitive ability, the WAIS-RUK. Data were collected on 27 participants aged 62,63 years. There was a two- to 10-month interval between time 1 (telephone) and time 2 (face-to-face) administration. Intra-class correlation coefficients for telephone versus face-to-face administration of the TACT were satisfactory for all component measures except for ,object rotation' and WAIS similarities. There was no evidence of systematic cheating on the telephone-administered test. Tests of concurrent validity showed stronger correlations for the TACT battery components with verbal tests rather than performance tests, as measured by the WAIS-RUK. A few administration difficulties are noted and recommendations for change are outlined. The TACT is a convenient assessment tool with potential for measuring cognitive change in epidemiological studies. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition: initial validation of the Korean versionJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2009Myung-Sun Hyun Abstract Title.,Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition: initial validation of the Korean version. Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to test the validity and reliability of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition in Korean culture. Background., Depression is a significant mental health problem in adolescents. The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition has been shown to be a useful tool to assess depression in adolescents, with extensive research on this measure having been conducted in western cultures. Measures developed in western cultures need to be tested and validated before being used in Asian cultures. Method., The participants were a convenience sample of 440 Korean adolescents with a mean age of 13·78 years (sd = 0·95) from grades 7 to 9 in three public middle schools in South Korea. A cross-sectional design was used. Back-translation was used to create the Korean version, with additional testing for cultural meaning and comprehension. The data were collected at the end of 2004. Results., Internal consistency reliability for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition was 0·89, with subscale reliability ranging from 0·66 to 0·81. Evidence for criterion-related, convergent and discriminant validity for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition was found. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 4-factor structure of Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition. Conclusion., Our results support the validity and reliability for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition as a measure of depression and suggest that it can be used to screen students and to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive interventions in school settings. [source] Relationship between two anxiety instruments in patients receiving mechanical ventilatory supportJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 5 2004Linda L. Chlan PhD RN Aims., The primary aim of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety (VAS-A) and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) in patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. A secondary aim is to provide suggestions for the nurse-researcher to consider when selecting an instrument to measure anxiety. Background., Anxiety is a common experience for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. It is a challenge, however, for nurse-researcher to select an instrument to measure anxiety that is valid and reliable yet does not cause great response burden for participants. Visual analog scales may reduce response burden, but lack sound validation in research participants receiving mechanical ventilatory support. Methods., This study used a correlational design. A convenience sample of critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support (n = 200) were asked to rate their current level of anxiety on the 20-item Spielberger SAI and a 100-mm VAS-A. Results., Eight participants were unable to complete the Spielberger SAI; 100% completed the VAS-A. The two instruments were found to be significantly correlated at r = 0·50; P = 0·01. Conclusion., The VAS-A was found to be less burdensome for research participants than the Spielberger SAI, resulting in no missing data on the VAS-A. Findings from this study provide initial validation of the VAS-A as a justifiable instrument to measure anxiety in patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. Researchers are advised to balance reliability and validity properties with response burden when selecting an instrument to measure anxiety in patients with communication challenges and energy limitations. [source] Religious coping among jews: development and initial validation of the JCOPEJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 7 2009David H. Rosmarin Abstract Numerous studies have underscored the importance of religious coping in psychological health and illness; however, the majority of research in this area has been conducted with Christian samples and knowledge about other religious groups is lacking. Although recent investigations have developed scales to measure religious coping among Hindus and Muslims, the potential for future research in Jewish populations remains limited as no measures of religious coping have been validated in the general Jewish community. This two-part study reports on the development and validation of the 16-item Jewish Religious Coping Scale (JCOPE). In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis identified two factors reflecting positive and negative religious coping strategies, and the concurrent validity for the measure was evaluated by examining correlations with indices of Jewish beliefs and practices. In Study 2, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) verified the JCOPE's 2-factor structure, and the scale's incremental validity was evaluated by examining Jewish religious coping as a predictor of psychological distress over and above significant covariates. Results suggest that the JCOPE has good psychometric properties, and that religious coping is a significant predictor of psychological distress among Jews. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1,14, 2009. [source] Validation of a client-based clinical metrology instrument for the evaluation of canine elbow osteoarthritisJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 6 2009C. A. Hercock Objective: To validate a disease-specific client-based clinical metrology instrument (questionnaire) for dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the elbow joint. Materialsand Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving 26 dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the elbow with 24 associated clients. Validity (face and criterion), reliability and responsiveness of the metrology instrument (named "Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs [elbow]") were tested in a sequence of studies. Face validity involved use of international peer review. Reliability was assessed using a test-retest scenario with a two week interval; peak vertical force as measured by a force platform was used as an external standard measure. Responsiveness was tested with a two week, single-blinded placebo-controlled intervention using a licensed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Results: The reliability of Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) in the test-retest scenario was good; intraclass correlation coefficient is 0·89, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·75 to 0·95, compared with intraclass correlation coefficient 0·92, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·74 to 0·98, for peak vertical force. Responsiveness testing indicated that the "net" effect size (allowing for placebo effect) for Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) was 0·13 compared with (,)0·18 for the force platform. Criterion validity for Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) against peak vertical force was poor; Spearman's rank correlation is ,0·24 (P=0·30). Clinical Significance: Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) was considered reliable with satisfactory responsiveness. The poor criterion validity suggests a mismatch between force platform peak vertical force and client perceptions of lameness. This instrument requires further validation in larger studies with alternative client groups and alternative therapeutic interventions, but this initial validation suggests that Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) is worthy of continued investigation. [source] Software Maintenance Maturity Model (SMmm): the software maintenance process modelJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 3 2005Alain April Abstract We address the assessment and improvement of the software maintenance function by proposing a maturity model for daily software maintenance activities: the Software Maintenance Maturity Model (SMmm). The software maintenance function suffers from a scarcity of management models to facilitate its evaluation, management, and continuous improvement. The SMmm addresses the unique activities of software maintenance while preserving a structure similar to that of the Capability Maturity Model integration (CMMi). It is designed to be used as a complement to that model. The SMmm is based on practitioners' experience, international standards, and the seminal literature on software maintenance. We present the model's purpose, scope, foundation, and architecture, followed by its initial validation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] (216) Pain and Addiction: Screening Patients at RiskPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2001Victor Li Introduction: Addictive disease is a common co-morbidity in chronic pain patients [1]. 26% of patients on methadone treatment believed that prescribed opioids led to their addiction [2]. We report initial validation of a Screening Tool for Addiction Risk (STAR). Methods: Questions based on prior studies of pain and addiction, addiction-screening tools [3,4], discussions with clinicians experienced in pain medicine and addiction, and our clinical experience were used to develop the STAR. After obtaining IRB approval, chronic pain patients completed the 14-item STAR questionnaire. 14 patients with chronic pain and history of drug addiction (DSM-IV Criteria) and 34 additional chronic pain patients completed the survey as part of their initial clinical evaluation. Patient responses were compared to determine which were questions accounted for statistically significant differences. Results: Questions related to respondent classification of addict based on chi-square analysis and Fisher's exact test were: prior treatment in a drug rehabilitation facility (p < 0.00001), nicotine use (p < 0.0032), feeling of excessive nicotine use (p < 0.0007), and treatment in another pain clinic (p < 0.018). A factor analysis linked addiction to first three questions mentioned above. Question: "Have you ever been treated in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation facility?" had a positive predictive value of 93% for addiction. Responses to recreational substance use, alcohol abuse, recent anxiety or depression, unemployment, emergency room visits, family history of drug or alcohol abuse, multiple physicians prescribing pain medication, or a prior history of physical or emotional abuse were not different between either patient group. Discussion: Screening for addiction is an important part of management of chronic pain patients. A history of treatment in drug or alcohol rehabilitation facility and questions related to cigarette smoking may be useful to screen for potential risk of addiction. Further investigations needed to validate results of this study. [source] Advances in the assessment of social competence: Findings from a preliminary investigation of a general outcome measure for social behaviorPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 10 2008Kelli D. Cummings This study describes the initial validation of an innovative social--behavioral observational assessment tool that is designed to be used on a repeated basis to assess growth and development of social competence over time to: (a) identify the social functioning of all students, (b) assist in planning support for students at risk, and (c) evaluate the effectiveness of individual and system-wide interventions. Eighteen first-grade students were monitored over an 8-week period using the Initiation-Response Assessment (IRA) Code. The School Social Behavior Scales, a published teacher rating scale, was included as a criterion measure. Estimates of reliability and criterion-related validity were calculated for the IRA. The measure's sensitivity to growth over time and between-group variability were also assessed using hierarchical linear modeling procedures. Results indicate that scores on this measure are stable, and tap constructs similar to those assessed via teacher rating. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||